Kavelashvili grants clemency to imprisoned opposition leaders, attributing their actions to involvement in local elections

Georgia's October Municipal Elections: A Contested Landscape

The municipal elections scheduled for October 4th in Georgia are shaping up to be a contentious affair, with several opposition parties announcing a boycott and others, including Lelo and For Georgia, deciding to participate.

Eight opposition parties, including those from the Coalition for Change and Unity, have chosen to boycott the elections, citing the disputed 2024 parliamentary elections marred by major violations as their reason. Notably, the opposition leaders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, both of Lelo, are among those who have been jailed for eight months for boycotting the ruling Georgian Dream party's anti-opposition parliamentary commission. Despite this, the Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili has recently pardoned Khazaradze and Japaridze, a move that was announced on Friday.

The commission, set up by the Georgian Dream party, was expanded to cover the period up to the present day, effectively allowing it to target opposition figures. The commission presented its conclusions on Tuesday, accusing the United National Movement government of crimes and of instigating the 2008 war. Kavelashvili, however, has called on all electoral subjects to contribute to holding the local self-government elections in a healthy and peaceful environment.

In Tbilisi, Lelo's secretary-general, Irakli Kupradze, will be the party's candidate, running against the city's incumbent mayor and Georgian Dream's secretary-general, Kakha Kaladze. For Georgia, a party founded by former Georgian Dream Prime Minister-turned-opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia, will also be participating in the elections. Lelo and For Georgia have signed a deal to support neutral candidates in mayoral races and for majoritarian council seats.

The reason given for the pardon was to prevent anyone from claiming that the October municipal elections are being held under restricted competitiveness. However, Kavelashvili's decision to pardon Khazaradze and Japaridze, despite believing that the elections would be competitive even with them in prison, has been met with criticism from some opposition parties. Kavelashvili himself has stated that Khazaradze and Japaridze's rejection of the pardon was an attempt to insult the institution of the president.

The United National Movement, one of the largest opposition groups, is not participating in the municipal elections scheduled for October 4th. Lelo, as well as For Georgia, opted to participate in the elections, arguing that opposition involvement would strengthen the anti-government momentum. Despite the boycott by several opposition parties, it remains to be seen how the elections will unfold and whether they will truly reflect the will of the Georgian people.

Kavelashvili grants clemency to imprisoned opposition leaders, attributing their actions to involvement in local elections